[Michael Willis] — Cookery Made Easy

London, Orlando Hodgson, 1820. Leather. A cookery work from the early nineteenth century. A pocket-sized volume bound in full leather. The binding is typical of the Regency era. This volume lacks the title page, however it seems to be Cookery Made Easy by Michael Willis, several editions of which were published by Orlando Hodgson in the 1820's. Includes sections on gravies and sauces, soups, stewing etc as well as wine-making, bee-keeping and the poultry yard. There are some monthly 'Bills of Fare', suggested dinners for every month of the year and a number of supper suggestions to the back of the volume. There are five plates illustrating trussing and carving. In a full calf binding. The extremities are worn with marks and scuffing to the boards and the spine is frayed but present, though with loss to the top and tail of spine. The binding is loose, and although both boards are attached, the rear board is hanging by one cord and may detach in the post. The page block is reasonably solid, though the cords are visible in several places. The title page is missing, as are pages vii-x and xv, which contains the conclusion of the preface and several of the contents pages. Internally the pages are generally clean though there are some persistant brown stains, one to the margin, and one to the top corners which effect a large number of pages. There is also some discolouration and pencil marks to pages at the the front and rear. Fair . Ill.: None Stated. Fair .